FTC to Hold Hearings on Privacy and Consumer Protection

The Federal Trade Commission plans to hold public hearings this fall and winter to examine its role amidst evolving business practices, new technologies and other. The topics of the hearings will include privacy, consumer protection, and unfair competition.

Joseph Simons, the new chairman of the FTC, told reporters yesterday that the big tech platforms have raised questions about competition and privacy that is an appropriate topic to get the public’s input. He didn’t mention any company specifically, but it would be hard to imagine that Facebook was not at the top of everyone’s mind as the FTC is currently investigating the social networking giant for violations of its 2011 consent decree with respect to Cambridge Analytica and the other events that have been recently uncovered.

The hearing and the associated public comment process will provide an avenue for outside experts and the public to present their viewpoints to the FTC as the agency considers how to evolve given its modern challenges. The hearings may identify improvements to the investigation and enforcement process, potential areas for changes in policy guidance, and areas that warrant additional study.

The FTC hearings will consist of 15 to 20 public sessions on a variety of topics. The FTC will invite comments on the topic of each hearing session before it happens and issue press releases with the agenda, date, and location.

They will follow a format similar to the Pitofsky Hearings, which happened in 1995 under the leadership of FTC Chair Robert Pitofsky. Those hearings established the FTC as a key hub for competition policy research and development, according to the announcement.

The FTC has already kicked off a public comment process on topics of particular interest to the Commission involving competition, consumer protection and privacy. The FTC will accept public comments on these topics through August 20, 2018.

Additional information from the FTC can be found if you click here.

More Blog Posts on the FTC:

Google Plus Privacy Breach: Senator Blumenthal Calls for FTC Investigation
FTC Asks for More Public Comments on Privacy
FTC Commissioner Phillips on Balance Between Privacy Law and Competition
House Subcommittee Asks FTC Commissioners About Consumer Privacy
FTC Chair Testimony Highlights Privacy Enforcement Priorities
FTC Comments on Vendor Due Diligence and Compliance after BLU Settlement
Senate Confirms FTC Commissioners
Oath to Pay $5 Million in Record COPPA Settlement

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